Pensioner body calls on Reeves to reverse cut to winter fuel allowance

Pensioners protesting against energy costs outside parliament in March, in a demonstration called by the National Pensioners Convention. Photograph: Guy Smallman/Getty Images

Rachel Reeves has been urged to reverse her “ill-advised” decision to strip most pensioners of their winter fuel payments, or risk millions of people being forced to choose between turning on the heating or preparing a hot meal.

The chancellor has faced fury from backbenchers, who have questioned how many older people will die of cold as a result of denying about 10 million pensioners the payments.